"I came to IITH for AI research. But what awaited me was far more than just research—it was an experience that shook my worldview through daily life and encounters."

So says Mr. JOYA Kosuke who took part in a short-term research internship at the Indian Institute of Technology Hyderabad (IITH) during his spring break (February–March 2025) between his third and fourth year as an undergraduate in the Faculty of Engineering at the University Tokyo. For about one month, he conducted research alongside IITH graduate students while living in the student dormitory, immersing himself in both research and campus life. What did he learn from this experience?

Why IITH?

The trigger came just as he had begun wanting to learn more about technologies that are transforming society, especially AI, when he came across a notice from his university recruiting students for a “Research Internship Program at IITH”. Although he did not know much about India at that time, as he followed developments in AI, India naturally came into view, and his interest in the country grew.

With fellow research interns at the IITH main gate (Mr. JOYA second from the left)

"India is now increasing its global presence as a digital powerhouse. I learned that in fields like IT and AI, remarkable advances are being made, and it is the IITs 1 —Indian Institutes of Technology—that support such changes. Looking at the global tech industry, I noticed that many executives of leading U.S. companies are IIT graduates. The fact that so many excellent engineers are produced by IITs and go on to shine worldwide made me wonder: in what kind of environment, and through what kind of learning, were they nurtured? I wanted to see and feel for myself how Indian students study and what kind of daily lives they lead."

Confronting the “Reality” of Research in India

At IITH, a doctoral student served as his mentor, guiding him through the research process. Although his original plan had been to work on medical imaging AI, he ultimately joined a project related to autonomous driving AI.

"Although the theme of my project changed, it still fell within the broad field of AI that I was interested in, so I had no problem with it. However, I did face difficulties with the network and research environment—for example, Wi-Fi was sometimes unstable, and installing datasets could take several days. Despite such challenges, the way of proceeding with the research itself was an extremely meaningful experience. The process of first understanding what had already been done in the laboratory and then considering a new, original direction will, I believe, serve as a foundation for my basic approach to research in the future."

Yet what left an even greater impact on him went beyond research itself.

A “Shower of Cultural Differences” in the Dormitory

Life in the IITH student dormitory was a series of culture shocks.

"From the outside the dormitory looked fine, but inside the living conditions were such that there was no air conditioning 2 , occasional blackouts, and even stray dogs wandering the hallways—circumstances hard to imagine in Japan. At first I was concerned about hygiene, but as long as I was careful with drinking water, I managed to stay healthy without major issues. Compared to living conditions in Japan, it was by no means ideal, yet local students lived cheerfully and normally within it. I came to feel the importance of a certain ‘looseness’ or ‘flexibility’—that you can find ways to enjoy yourself in any environment, and that society continues to function even without perfection."

Friendship that Brings Insights and Joy

Conversations with Indian students took place almost daily in the dormitory and cafeteria. One day it was with a national-level badminton player, another with a graduate student aspiring to become an AI researcher. Friendships grew naturally through everyday meals and campus events. His internship also coincided with the university festival, filling the campus with energy.

"Even though our cultures and lifestyles were completely different, what made us laugh or what we worried about turned out to be surprisingly similar. To feel that commonality within difference was, I believe, the most valuable experience of all."

With fellow research interns at the IITH campus festival (Mr. JOYA in the center)

“Take the Step, and the World You See Will Change”

"Many people may think of India as ‘unhygienic’ or ‘difficult to live in’. But that alone shouldn’t be a reason to avoid it. With the right preparation, living there is entirely manageable, and you will surely gain something more. In reality, the roads are a constant chorus of honking, with cars, motorcycles, people, and animals all moving together. Blackouts happen, schedules are relaxed—daily life is quite different from the ‘orderly’ routine of Japan. At the same time, IT-driven services are more widespread than in Japan. Even at small corner shops, QR code payments are available, and the convenience of the online payment system was striking. Through this and many other experiences, I felt the strength of India—the vitality created by an attitude of not fearing trial and error, even within an environment that has many underdeveloped aspects. You may not know what the ‘correct’ way is, yet society keeps moving, and people keep smiling. By placing myself in such an environment, I felt freed for the first time from the belief that ‘things must be a certain way.’ The standards of ‘normal’ within me were shaken, and I realized just how much I had been surrounded by Japanese values in every aspect of daily life."

"If I had to describe this month in a single word, it would be ‘chaos.’ But not in a negative sense—it was chaos in a bright and positive sense."

He reflected, his expression carrying the quiet confidence of someone who had fully lived through and grown within the ‘chaos” of India.

Why not take the leap and discover a new version of yourself out in the world?